University of Southampton Appoints Director to Enhance Learning & Teaching
Mumbai, 24th Feb:- The University of Southampton has appointed Dr Sagaya Amalathas as Director of Learning and Teaching at its Delhi campus.
Dr Amalathas will be responsible for delivering outstanding education and a distinctively Southampton student experience at the University’s new campus in India. She will take up her post in June 2025, ahead of the first students joining in August this year.
University of Southampton Delhi will become India’s first global top 100 university when the campus in Gurugram opens, providing high-quality education rooted in research excellence, innovation, and real-world opportunities for Indian students. SouthampDr Sagaya Amalathaston is the first university to receive approval to set up a campus by the University Grants Commission, India’s national Higher Education regulator.
Dr Amalathas is the Head of Computer Science and an Associate Professor at the University of Southampton’s Malaysia campus. She successfully led the graduation of the campus’s first Computer Science cohort. She has led higher education initiatives, conducted significant research, and contributed to the computing industry. Her expertise has been critical in designing, developing, and implementing applications used in Malaysian agriculture, medicine, and telecommunications.
Dr Amalathas said: “I have a strong passion for curriculum innovation and am excited about developing a creative and inclusive learning environment for all students at our Delhi campus.
“This is an exciting time for the University and having successfully launched and developed academic programs in Malaysia, I am eager to contribute to the success of the Delhi campus, leveraging my dedication to education and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
“Education is a transformative force and as Director of Learning and Teaching I will inspire students and staff to achieve excellence.”
Professor Andrew Atherton, Vice-President International and Engagement at the University of Southampton added: “The Director of Learning and Teaching is a key strategic role, providing leadership for the educational activity taking place at the University of Southampton Delhi.
“Working closely with others, Dr Amalathas will ensure our campus curriculum plan reflects both the University’s high-quality approach to delivering educational excellence and the University Grants Commission’s regulations. We welcome Sagaya to the University of Southampton Delhi, and look forward to working on this exciting and transformational initiative.”
Medical Miracle: 100-Year-Old Man Walks Again After Risky Hip Surgery
Dr Rahul Sharma is a senior orthopedic surgeon and did his prestigious AOA Australian Orthopaedic Association fellowship from Sydney (Australia). He spent some time in Rothman Hospital in Philadelphia (USA).
There was a time when old people particularly those nearing 100 years of age were left to depend on others for the rest of their lives or fend for themselves – without any treatment and had no option but to live with agonizing and unbearable pain due to blood loss, blood clots, bed sores and other complications after falls and fractures – a fairly common occurrence in old age. Not anymore, due to the latest advancements in medical science.
Significantly almost 50% of women and 20% of men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, which is a significant risk factor for hip bone fractures in older adults in India. It’s estimated that by 2026, the number of hip fractures in India will increase significantly, with around 600,000 osteoporotic hip fractures occurring annually.
According to studies hip bone fractures are the cause behind 15% to 36% mortality rates. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma revealed that the overall 2-year mortality rate for hip fracture patients in India is around 11.2%. Many older adults in India face significant barriers to accessing timely and adequate healthcare for hip fractures, including limited availability of orthopedic services and rehabilitation facilities. Hence, there is a need for standardized, effective, and multidisciplinary management approaches for the treatment and rehabilitation of hip fracture patients in India.
According to Dr Rahul Sharma, a senior orthopaedic surgeon, “A hip fracture can be a complex and dangerous problem for people who are older than 65 years of age. They can’t stand, walk or put weight on a broken hip. They also cannot prevent hip bone fractures due to sudden falls or other trauma because they can’t plan the cause behind them. It usually takes at least a few months and at times a year after treatment to notice improvements and fully recover from a broken hip depending upon factors like the age of the patient, his/her overall health, what caused the fracture, the type of surgery performed, and other injuries suffered”.
“Any health condition that affects the balance, stability, or ability to walk can increase the risk of breaking a hip. The older you are, the longer it takes your body to heal any injury, and that’s especially true when you have a major hip fracture. The surgery to treat a hip fracture and recovery from it is much harder in the case of older adults”, he says.
“The risk of falls and fractures is even more profound in older adults, particularly those nearing 100 years of age who are more susceptible and have a higher risk of falls, fractures, and injuries due to age-related reduced mobility, balance, and strength, osteoporosis, dementia, cognitive impairment, reduced vision, hearing, and sensory perception as well as chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease”, he adds.
Even extrinsic factors like slippery floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting and footwear with slippery soles or poor traction as well as medications that cause dizziness, and drowsiness can increase the risk of falls.
As a result, falls and fractures lead to loss of independence, decline in mobility, chronic pain, life-threatening conditions, and reduced quality of life. Hip fractures not only drastically affect the older adult’s quality of life but also that of their caregivers, leading to financial burdens and increased care requirements. Hip fractures impose a significant
economic burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system in India. Many older adults in
India faces challenges in accessing timely and appropriate healthcare for hip fractures. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma, only 16.1% of centenarian patients were able to walk outdoors one year after surgery, while 83.9% had to stay indoors.
Hip fractures in older adults are a significant public health concern in India, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and the healthcare system. As per another estimate, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men above the age of 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime. In the years to come, the number of patients with hip fractures in India is expected to rise due to the growing population of aging people, and women in particular are more likely to experience hip fractures than men.
As a result, older adults nearing 100 years of age require prompt and effective management of hip fractures to minimize the mortality rate and improve the quality of life. Hip replacements are usually safe surgeries which usually take one to two hours. Most people regain their mobility as well as range of motion and experience a dramatic decrease in pain and stiffness after a hip replacement. A hip replacement usually makes it easier to walk, climb stairs, and do other physical activities. If all goes well, a patient may be able to use the hip, walk, move, sit down, stand up, go up or down the stairs, go to the washroom, bathe, shower, and get dressed without any restrictions in six to 12 weeks. During a hip replacement, the surgeon removes a part of the bone and cartilage from the existing hip joint and replaces it with a prosthesis usually made of metal, plastic, or ceramic.
A living example is S C Kapur, a 100-year-old man who suffered a medical emergency and acute unbearable pain due to a major hip joint fracture after a fall in his house. He was admitted to the hospital where Dr Rahul Sharma a senior orthopaedic surgeon and joint replacement expert advised him an immediate and elective hip bone replacement surgery which was the only solution for his type of fracture, and associated comorbidities.
It was not an easy decision, and a multidisciplinary team of orthopedic surgeons, anesthetists, physicians, cardiologists, and intensive care specialists were required to care for the patient during the surgery. It seemed to be a big and challenging task considering the patient’s age and precarious medical condition, but Dr Rahul Sharma and his team accepted the challenge and successfully performed the complex hip arthroplasty surgery (joint replacement surgery) which lasted nearly 90 minutes. The surgery was done with the highest standards of asepsis to prevent infection.
After the meticulous surgery, the patient was discharged from the hospital after about 3 days. He is now undergoing rehabilitation and can walk comfortably. According to Dr Rahul Sharma an expert in hip, knee, and shoulder surgeries and founder of Life in Motion Clinic who practices in Sawan Neelu Angel’s Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, “A successful surgery with good outcomes not only gives satisfaction to the medical team but also installs the faith in the patient over medical advancements. The geriatric population of our society is the most sensitive class that needs and deserves a better medical care facility to achieve a better life.
This story is a testament to the tireless efforts of doctors who constantly work for the betterment of their patients and strive to give them a better lifestyle without the fear of surgery that makes them lead a miserable life dependent on others.
Newcastle University Announces India Leadership Scholarship for 2025
24th February 2025: Newcastle University is pleased to announce the India Leadership and Innovation Scholarship for the 2025 academic year, aimed at outstanding Indian students. This prestigious award covers full tuition fees for a one-year master’s program at the university’s Newcastle city-centre campus. With 10 scholarships available for courses starting in September 2025, this initiative provides a remarkable opportunity for Indian students to pursue advanced education at a globally renowned institution, nurturing future leaders and innovators.
The International Leadership Scholarship is designed for candidates who demonstrate leadership and creativity in extracurricular activities, student organisations, athletics, community service, or professional endeavours. Candidates will be examined based on their academic aptitude and application quality. The goal of the scholarship is to draw in top-tier students who exhibit remarkable leadership potential, academic distinction, and a desire to make a meaningful impact in their areas.
Eligibility and Award Criteria: The scholarship is open to international students applying for full-time one-year master’s programs. The students must:
- Be domiciled in India.
- Be assessed as international for fee purposes.
- Hold an offer for an eligible, full-time, one-year master’s degree program at the Newcastle city-centre campus for the 2025/26 academic year.
- Have, or expect to obtain, the equivalent of a first-class UK honours degree
Samsung Galaxy S25, Powered by Micron, Elevates AI Experiences
Bangalore, India, Feb. 24, 2025 — Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) announced today that its industry-leading low-power double data rate 5X (LPDDR5X) memory and universal flash storage (UFS) 4.0 are featured in select devices in the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, which introduces multimodal AI agents to pioneer intuitive and context-aware mobile AI experiences. Additionally, Micron is now shipping its most power-efficient LPDDR5X memory ever to the market for the first time, offering users more than 10% power improvement.[1] With its One UI 7 update, the Galaxy S25 series is a true AI companion that provides personalized experiences tailored to users’ unique needs, powered by multimodal AI agents that seamlessly interpret text, speech, images, and videos.
As smartphone AI capabilities grow in sophistication, processing is increasingly executed directly on edge devices rather than relying only on the cloud. This demands more high-performance memory and storage than ever to accommodate AI models and datasets on the devices. Power efficiency is also critical, with over 70% of smartphone users stating that battery life is the most important feature they consider when purchasing a phone.
“We’ve optimized Micron’s mobile portfolio to deliver the power efficiency, high performance, and large capacity needed to propel the next wave of AI innovation in flagship smartphones,” said Mark Montierth, corporate vice president and general manager of Micron’s Mobile Business Unit. “Samsung is setting a new standard for AI phones, enabling them to be true AI companions with context-aware and personalized mobile experiences powered by Micron’s leadership memory and storage.”
Micron’s high-bandwidth LPDDR5X memory and advanced UFS 4.0 storage are embedded into select Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 devices, accelerating real-time AI processing at consumers’ fingertips. Micron’s UFS 4.0 storage is available in high capacities, allowing data to be stored locally instead of in the cloud, providing greater security for personal data. Additionally, the power efficiency gains of Micron’s latest LPDDR5X are attributed to its advanced 1β (1-beta) process technology and design optimizations, enabling it to operate at voltages lower than the industry standard — resulting in longer battery life.
“The Galaxy S25 series represents the next evolution of the mobile AI era — one that brings a more natural, context-aware, and personalized experience to users, redefining how they interact with their devices and by extension, the world around them,” said Inkang Song, vice president and head of the technology strategy team at Samsung. “Through our close collaboration, Micron’s mobile solutions provide the foundation that powers these transformative AI capabilities, driving innovation and shaping the future of mobile AI technology.”
Joyalukkas Unveils INR 30 Crore Senior Living Project in Kerala
24th February 2025: Thrissur: Joyalukkas launches the ‘Centre for Senior Living’ to ensure healthcare and well-being for the elderly. The foundation stone for the centre, which will be established in Puthur, Thrissur, was laid by Mr.Joy Alukkas, Chairman and MD, Joyalukkas Group along with Ms.Jolly Joy Alukkas, Director, Joyalukkas Foundation. The ceremony was officiated by Fr. Joju Panakkal, vicar, Puthur Church.
As part of Joyalukkas Group’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, the Joyalukkas Foundation is building the Centre for Senior Living to provide healthcare services for the elderly. This facility will include a state-of-the-art palliative care unit, a high-quality dialysis centre, and 225 beds across 82 rooms. Additionally, the project aims to provide free services to financially disadvantaged senior citizens.
Speaking about the initiative, Mr.Joy Alukkas, Chairman and MD of Joyalukkas Group, stated that the centre will offer modern medical care to elderly individuals suffering from age-related ailments. The project, with an estimated cost of ₹30 crores, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. We have already planned to establish around 10 such centres across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Upon completion, the Puthur centre will generate employment opportunities for over 100 local residents. He also expressed hope for collective support and co-operation in bringing this project to reality.
Joyalukkas Foundation Director, Mrs.Jolly Joy Alukkas, emphasized that the Centre for Senior Living highlights the foundation’s commitment to social welfare. The foundation has been actively involved in several philanthropic initiatives, including those in the healthcare sector. She expressed immense happiness in being able to extend assistance to deserving individuals.
The ceremony was attended by Mr. Thomas Mathew, Executive Director Joyalukkas, Mr. Henry George, COO, Joyalukkas, members of the Joyalukkas Foundation and the Alukkas family.
Samsung Revamps Smartphone Service Centers with Premium Design & Excellence
Bengaluru, India, February 24, 2025: Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, is set to elevate its smartphone customer service experience with a comprehensive redesign of its service centres. This initiative aims to establish a seamless service-to-sales journey, reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to superior after-sales support with a strong focus on premium customer care.
Designed to deliver an integrated omni-channel experience, the remodelled service centres incorporate advanced digitalised processes to cater to the evolving expectations of Samsung’s young and dynamic customer base. They not only boast a diverse product portfolio but also lead the way in technological innovation with advanced diagnostic tools that detect issues with pinpoint accuracy.
The upgraded centres break away from traditional layouts, introducing plush, sofa-style seating equipped with inbuilt wireless charging stations to create a lounge-like ambience. Reimagined accessory walls showcase Samsung’s extensive range of wearables, while ultra-large digital screens feature the latest product innovations, offering visitors an immersive experience.
“Over the decades, we have expanded a robust network of service centres to support our existing customer base which is concurrent to the needs of our sales partners. As consumer expectations evolve every day, we wanted to transform these spaces by infusing youthful and efficient design elements to make them more appealing, while keeping traditional customer needs in mind. At the heart of this is Samsung’s commitment to providing a premium experience to its customers,” said Sunil Cutinha, VP, Customer Satisfaction, Samsung India.
To enhance customer interactions, dedicated kiosks will enable visitors to connect with product support specialists, explore new product launches, and stay updated on exclusive offers and discounts. An online appointment booking system will allow customers to schedule their visits in advance, ensuring a hassle-free experience with minimal wait times.
Samsung currently operates more than 3,000 service touch points across India including physical service centres, resident engineers and collection points. The roll-out of the service centre redesign will be implemented in phases across key cities, ensuring an elevated customer experience nationwide.
CredAble Partners with Chekk to Scale Working Capital with KYC & AML
Mumbai, India, 24th February 2025: Global working capital tech player, CredAble partners with Chekk, a leader in digital identity and Know Your Customer (KYC) solutions provider, to streamline the onboarding and compliance workflows of Financial Institutions (FIs) in regions like the APAC, MENA, and Europe.
FIs globally are struggling to scale up working capital programs, due to manual verifications and data collections & verification processes. By leveraging data sources across 220 countries & territories, the collaboration will provide region-specific solutions and access to business-relevant data along with documents and risk assessment models to help FIs onboard clients, vendors and dealers digitally and securely.
Backed by powerful API and SDK integration, this partnership will bring together CredAble’s industry-leading working capital tech suite and Chekk’s best-in-class KYC, Know Your Business (KYB), and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions.
Through this partnership, Financial Institutions can leverage Chekk’s Multi-Sources Engine to streamline the labour-intensive process of assessing corporate data from many sources around the world, assess risk and onboard entities, and remotely verify the identity of UBOs and controlling shareholders in under 20 seconds with video-based identity & verification and anti-fraud checks.
This gives financial institutions the ability to get the full picture of business counterparts in just a click, reducing onboarding time and costs, and eliminates the need for complex engineering integrations.
This partnership cements CredAble’s position as a trusted working capital financing tech platform for global banks and financial institutions, setting the stage for future innovation in digital onboarding and underwriting.
“The partnership marks a key moment towards global expansion for CredAble and is very well aligned with our strategy to offer powerful onboarding automation for financial institutions.” said Satyam Agrawal, MD, Global Head of BaaS, SME and Analytics of CredAble. He added, “Together, CredAble and Chekk are well-positioned to spearhead the digital banking revolution across key international markets with automated onboarding workflows, advanced underwriting capabilities, and DPI-enabled localisation support for global use cases. With this partnership, we are enabling faster go-live for banks that are onboarding with CredAble to bolster their working capital financing offerings and tech capabilities.”
Pascal Nizri, Chekk’s Co-founder & CEO, commented on the partnership’s potential and stated, “Our partnership with CredAble exemplifies our commitment to strengthening onboarding and risk mitigation for banks and FinTechs around the world. By connecting Chekk’s next-generation Digital Identity, KYC & KYB solutions, and advanced corporate data sourcing capabilities, to CredAble’s world-class working capital financing suite, we look forward to empowering financial institutions further with transformative client engagement and credit decisioning capabilities.”
From ensuring secure onboarding processes and reliable underwriting workflows, to enabling regional compliance requirements and global scalability, CredAble’s partnership with Chekk accelerates the shift to customer-centric solutions, DPI-enabled underwriting, and end-to-end digital banking journeys.
CIEL HR Survey: India’s Institutional Investor Sector Sees 69% Headcount Growth in 2 Years
National, 24 February 2025: India’s market capitalization has risen over the past decade, growing from US$1.2 trillion to US$5.2 trillion. This growth has spurred significant expansion in the institutional investor sector. According to CIEL HR Services’ latest report, CIEL Works, titled- Institutional Investors – Talent Trends and Insights, India has witnessed a notable 69% increase in headcount within the sector over the last two years.
The study encompasses 16000+ executives from 80 companies in the investor sector and provides valuable insights into key areas such as gender diversity, tenure in a firm, roles in demand, and career progression.
One notable finding regarding talent mobility revealed that only 17% of professionals, including fund managers, portfolio managers, and senior analysts, are promoted from within their organizations, while 83% are hired externally. This presents an opportunity for companies in the sector to innovate their practices around internal career progression and enhance their work environment which makes their talent thrive.
The sector has made strides in workforce diversity, with women’s participation at 27% of the overall workforce. However, representation in leadership roles remains a challenge, with women holding just 14% of senior positions.
Commenting on the findings, Mr. K Pandiarajan – Executive Director and Chairman of CIEL HR said, “India’s trajectory towards becoming a $7 trillion economy by 2030 is a reflection of its burgeoning market size and a testament to the rapid transformation taking place across its financial landscape. With an expected growth rate of 6.1% over the next five years and positioning to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027, India’s institutional investor sector is at the forefront of this evolution. The sector is experiencing a radical shift, with both established players and new entrants driving innovation in investment strategies and financial products. This dynamic growth signals a pivotal moment for institutional investors to harness emerging opportunities, both within India and globally.”
Adding to this Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD & CEO of CIEL HR stated, “The sector employs crème de la crème talent in the country. With our economy growing at a rapid pace, the demand for these roles will surge, further widening the demand-supply gap. We anticipate skilled
professionals to return to India from global markets while also drawing expatriates to the country.”
Other Key Findings from CIEL HR – Institutional Investors Talent Trends and Insights Report
- Approximately 25% of the workforce in the Institutional Investors sector has switched jobs in the past year, emphasizing the dynamic and competitive nature of the industry.
- The average tenure across the Institutional Investors sector is 3 years, reflecting high mobility and talent competition.
- Professionals in the industry often hold advanced qualifications, including MBAs from top Indian and international business schools, as well as prestigious CA / CFAs.
Akvarious Productions Celebrates 25 Years with Two-Day Festival at NCPA
Mumbai, 24th February 2025: Akvarious Productions, one of India’s most prolific theatre companies, is marking 25 years of storytelling with a special two-day celebration at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai. Since its inception, Akvarious has staged over 80 plays across multiple languages and genres, with seven nominations and two wins at the prestigious Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. With over 1,600 performances across 30 cities, including international stages, the company has also carved a niche in children’s theatre with ten productions.
As part of the anniversary festivities, the lineup includes four acclaimed plays — In the Beginning Was the Word, Teen Kahaaniya, The Verdict, and It’s a Wonderful Life — and an engaging ‘Explore, Apply, Perform’ workshop with theatre veteran Shaun Williams. The celebration also introduces new initiatives such as rehearsed readings, open auditions, and even a theatre cricket tournament—bringing together artists in both performance and play.
Reflecting on the milestone, Akarsh Khurana, Founder, Akvarious Productions, said: “I think the gravity of the achievement gets clearer when people react to the number and think it’s a big deal. Which is when we’re like, hey, that’s true. We’re constantly rehearsing or performing, because it’s what we love, and we want to do much more of the same this year. But yes, because we should celebrate the journey, we’re looking back, taking stock, scaling up, taking some risks as well, and just going a little above and beyond. These microfests, the first of which the NCPA has been wonderful enough to collaborate with us on, are a new idea. We’re also doing new plays, rehearsed readings, workshops, open auditions, and even a theatre cricket tournament.”
BML Munjal University’s Propel Pitchfest25 Fuels India’s Startup Innovation
Gurgaon, 24th February 2025: BML Munjal University (BMU) successfully hosted Propel Pitchfest25, the flagship annual event organized by ACIC-BMU Foundation (ACIC-BMU), Atal Community Innovation Centre at BML Munjal University in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, bringing together India’s most promising entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.
With a USD 1 million (₹8+ Cr) investment pool, supported by the Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and MeitY GENESIS Scheme, the event provided crucial` financial backing to emerging ventures.
The startups that participated were from various sectors like Deeptech, Medtech, Textile Innovation, Sustainability, and Social Impact.
Investors include Indian Angel Network, India Accelerator, Pontaq VC, Sanchi Connect, Foxhog Ventures, JITO, Campus Fund, Campus Angels, Agility Ventures, Fluid Ventures, RTAF, She Capital, lead Angels, Inflection Point ventures, Indian Healthcare Angels, Venture Catalysts were among the various investors who were a part of the event.
Speaking about the event Mr. Davinder Singh, CEO, of ACIC-BMU Foundation, said, “Propel Pitchfest25 is more than just an event; it is a Launchpad for innovation and a catalyst for entrepreneurial success. Over the past, we’ve been at the forefront of supporting innovators across different sectors or industries. Through our programs and support, we’ve proudly nurtured more than 70 startups, catalyzed the creation of 500+ jobs, and facilitated investments. Our mission at ACIC-BMU is to nurture ground-breaking solutions that drive meaningful change, and this event is a testament to that commitment.”
During the event, ACIC-BMU Foundation showcased the achievements and progress of startups supported under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, recognizing their contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship
The event witnessed the launch of the Singapore India Startup Corridor Program, aimed at driving innovation between the two countries and giving market access, and networking opportunities to the Indian Startups.
Beyond funding, student founders also benefited from masterclasses, boot camps, and investor clinics, where industry experts guided them on refining business models, attracting investments, and scaling their innovations.
Propel Pitchfest25 also championed inclusivity in entrepreneurship, with dedicated tracks for women-led and student-founded start-ups, ensuring a diverse and equitable platform for innovators to thrive.